“Be determined, but don’t worry. Even in your father’s parting words, worry blinds the eyes.”

First, I followed the shoe that touched the ground and looked up to confirm the face of the tall man.

Following the young man with black hair and blue eyes, a middle-aged man about shoulder height to him descended.

‘That must be Duke Baitness.’

Taking a deep breath, Vivian looked at the middle-aged man and showed her respect. Then, another group emerged from the carriage behind.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Vivian Eveline.”

Vivian greeted with the most polite and refined voice she could muster, summoning all her strength.

“Ah, Miss Eveline, whom I’ve only heard about in rumors.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you, Duke. Congratulations on becoming the owner of the mansion.”

“Haha… You seem to have misunderstood.”

The man who laughed awkwardly gestured to the man standing next to him. The face of the man, which I hadn’t examined closely before, suddenly came into view.

His light blue eyes resembled the color of Lake Lanua. It was as if the cool lake I always immersed myself in on summer nights was captured in his eyes, but their temperature was as cold and chilly as winter.

Even aside from those eyes, he was quite a striking man. His delicate features sometimes sharpened, giving him a manly appearance, and his unusually tall stature, broad shoulders, and long limbs drew attention.

The blue-eyed man stared at Vivian as coldly as his eyes. It was when the other person’s persistent examination in the silence became uncomfortable.

“It’s been a while, Miss Eveline.”

I had to meet his eyes again, which I had avoided.

It’s been a while? Were we acquaintances?

I scrutinized his shining appearance but couldn’t find any intersection. Vivian, interpreting it as just a New Way courtesy, awkwardly turned towards Duke Baitness.

“Ah, so you are Duke Baitness. I’m sorry. I didn’t know because you weren’t among those who came to see the mansion before the auction.”

“There must have been quite a few people who came to see the mansion.”

“I don’t have a bad memory, so…”

“Well. Indeed.”

I thought it was goodwill, but it seemed I had misjudged. Vivian decided to fully understand Duke Baitness’s attitude, which remained at an ambiguous point between hostility and goodwill. Mr. Sheffer’s request might have been annoying.

“I heard the last remaining servant ran away with the remaining money.”

Duke Baitness’s eyes unexpectedly pointed at Theo. Vivian looked up at Theo, who was kindly holding the umbrella, with an apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry, but this person is not a servant, he’s my friend.”

At the word ‘friend’, Theo’s face showed a slightly surprised look, with a faint excitement in it.

“He’s a tailor who runs a clothing store in town. After my family came to New Way, we received a lot of help. Now, we’ve become the closest of friends.”

“The rumors don’t seem to be entirely false.”

“Pardon?”

“If it’s alright, I’d like to inspect the mansion.”

Before I could resolve the question of what rumors he meant, his shoes stepped closer. Vivian, who had unknowingly stepped back, nodded while lowering her gaze.

She thought she had given an answer to the request that wasn’t really a request, but the man’s black shoe tip that touched her lowered gaze didn’t seem to want to disappear. Following the neatly tailored pants, then the jacket, up to the blue eyes.

“We have things to talk about, don’t we?”

“Th-things to talk about?”

Vivian’s words stumbled embarrassingly as she held her breath at the suddenly closer distance with Duke Baitness. Her pale cheeks flushed hotly, but there was nowhere to hide.

“You must know about the favor Mr. Sheffer asked of me before he left.”

“Ah, that. Yes. I know about it from Mr. Sheffer.”

“Then shall we talk in a quiet place after touring the mansion? Miss Eveline.”

It was a tone reminiscent of the clean summer breeze. As Mr. Sheffer had said, one could tell by his upright attitude that he was a nobleman beloved by the people of New Way, without a single flaw. But the subtle hostility he showed made it difficult for her heart to move readily.

“Then Theo and I will wait in the room. If you could call for us after you’ve comfortably looked around…”

“No. Miss Eveline, please assist with the tour by my side. None of us know about this vast mansion.”

“…If that’s what you want, I’ll do so.”

Was it goodwill? If he harbored hostility, such a request wouldn’t be easy.

“I want it. So, will you do it?”

She was about to answer but nodded instead. Vivian hoped that the suffocating Duke Baitness would quickly pass by her. As his steps lifted from the floor and he took a step, Vivian felt relieved.

But when he turned to look at Vivian without moving further, an unexpected tension circled around, making her head spin.

“Ah. Except for the tailor friend.”

After barely sending away the worried Theo, Vivian followed behind them as per the Duke’s instruction to assist with the mansion tour.

Beside Duke Baitness, who was walking ahead, the lawyer and the internal director were constantly talking about company matters. The Duke responded appropriately and sometimes offered opinions. Then the lawyer and the internal director would write down everything he said. It was doubtful if they were really looking at the mansion, as the company talk was all there was.

At the same time, Duke Baitness’s ability to memorize the paths of the mansion without neglecting it surprised Vivian, who was watching.

Moreover, every action overflowed with dignity and grace. Even for Vivian, who had dealt with and seen countless nobles, Duke Baitness’s qualities were fresh and perfect, drawing her gaze.

‘Mr. Sheffer’s praise wasn’t wrong. He seems like a person with many things to learn from.’

The evaluation made in a short time of observing him was favorable. Such evaluations must be familiar to him.

The Duke often turned to look at Vivian when a new path appeared. When their eyes met in mid-air, she would step forward and explain where this path led to, what rooms were there, etc. After the explanation, Vivian would retreat to the very back again. Then, by chance, her eyes met with the woman in the group.

‘Is she Mrs. Baitness?’

Although she looks young, it’s too much to consider her a daughter. Duke Baitness doesn’t look old enough to have a grown daughter, so the claim that she’s his wife gained strength.

The eyes following Vivian all the way to finding her place created an embarrassing feeling. Since she even followed, Vivian naturally didn’t avoid it and eventually pretended to look away.

Much later, feeling relieved that the woman’s gaze must have disappeared, she straightened her eyes. And there, she could see the affectionate couple.

The woman who clung lovingly to the Duke’s arm, and the man who kindly offered his arm.

‘Ah. She is indeed his wife.’

The reason her heart ached was that this house, which had guided her beloved family towards ruin, would become a warm shelter for someone else.

Vivian guided Edwin to the study that Lawrence Eveline was said to have used. The large portrait of Vivian Eveline hanging on the wall conveyed Lawrence’s love for his only daughter.

“I’ll remove the portrait.”

As Edwin stared at Vivian’s portrait for quite some time, Vivian blushed as if embarrassed.

Letting out a low chuckle, he took Lawrence Eveline’s place. Vivian’s face briefly flushed dangerously at seeing a stranger sit in this seat that only her father had sat in, but it was only for a moment.

“Sit down.”

When Edwin gestured with his chin, Vivian silently sat down and brightened her shadowy gray eyes.

The Vivian Eveline before him had grown quite differently from the girl 14 years ago. The plump baby fat was gone, replaced by a gaunt appearance. Her golden hair lacked luster, and while her features had become a bit more distinct, that was all.

“Say what you have to say.”

“Pardon? Ah, yes. Yes…”

Her neckline had lengthened, and her collarbone had deepened.

But the full, womanly figure that should have filled out her body was nowhere to be seen, even if one looked closely.

Do the beasts at the auction house harbor base desires even seeing this state?

Pure curiosity arose.

“My mother is supposed to return. She went to Preston, but for some reason there’s been no news from her. I’m truly sorry to ask this, but could I stay here until my mother returns?”

In her urgency, her words quickened, and her upper body leaned deeply towards Edwin. As if coming to her senses in the brief silence, she cleared her throat and straightened her posture.

“If you could provide even a servant’s room, I’ll pay for it when I leave. I won’t cause any trouble for you and your family, Duke. I don’t need meals, just a room to lie down in is enough.”

Vivian persistently elaborated. Her effort to try and calm her intermittently trembling breaths seemed to have failed. Her shoulders, barely covered with skin, were tightly hunched.

“No meals needed. Just a room to lie down in.”

“Yes. If you could do that…”

“So you don’t plan to eat from now on?”

Vivian hesitated and stumbled over her words, making ‘uh, um’ sounds.

“If you just let me sleep at night, I can go down to the village during the day. I’ll take care of meals there.”

“The village?”

“I’m sorry, but I think I can rely on my friend a little. I’m making and selling embroidery to my friend, and if I sell it a bit cheaper, I can manage meals.”

“That one from earlier?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“The name of that man you called a friend?”

“It’s Theo Evans.”

Edwin, who had muttered the name Theo Evans quietly, stared at Vivian, whose eyes had reddened.

Does she want to cry out of pity for her begging situation? Or does she want to cry because of the uncertain future?

Either way, he wanted her to cry. What Edwin wanted to do now was to make Vivian Eveline, who was trying her best to hold back tears, cry.

And cry a lot. Until her eyes wouldn’t open the next day.

And Edwin never postponed what he had set his mind to.

“Do you know what I thought when I put my signature on the deed of this mansion?”

His hand, reaching into his jacket’s inner pocket, pulled out a paper envelope and held it out in front of Vivian. The envelope was open. Vivian didn’t hastily bite the bait to take it out and look.

“That Vivian Eveline would beg before me.”

Edwin gestured to the envelope in front of him. Since she didn’t take the bait, he was directly feeding it to her, and she couldn’t help but take it out and look.

“That you would plead for your life.”

Vivian’s face was turning pale moment by moment as she read the document.

“Then I thought I’d show some generosity. That’s also the reason I smiled while signing the deed.”

The content of the document that the ashen eyes were reading was quite simple. At the bottom of the promissory note with the borrowed amount, interest, and repayment deadline, the debtor was Monica Eveline. And the creditor was Edwin Baitness.

Seeing her mother’s familiar name and signature here, the huge sum of 700,000 Mori used in the auction flashed through her mind.

Additionally, she recalled the concerns of those who questioned the source of the money her mother had borrowed. Though the form was slightly different, the essence wasn’t much different.

“I plan to report Monica Eveline to the authorities.”

The word ‘report’ created a shockwave. In her stiffened mind, she barely managed to combine words.

“Report my mother? Suddenly, why…”

“You read it, didn’t you?”

“…”

“The repayment deadline has passed, and Mrs. Eveline couldn’t pay the interest she was supposed to pay all at once. Then she disappeared.”

“No, no. She didn’t disappear. My, my mother will come back. She’s not the kind of person who would disappear.”

“That’s just your thought.”

The man’s long fingertip cruelly stabbed Vivian. Vivian’s eyes burned hot at the man’s smooth fingernail. It was sympathy for her helpless self within the malicious sneer.

From the moment they came to New Way, everything started to break down and eventually led to ruin.

Her father went missing, and her mother didn’t return. While knowing what that meant, she pretended not to know because she didn’t want to let go of hope for life.

“I, I have the principal. It’s in my room right now. I’ll return it to you. I’ll pay the interest that hasn’t been paid. So please don’t report my mother. Forget about my request to stay here. I’ll find a way to repay all the debt owed to you, Duke, so my mother…”

“Yes. I know. Since you failed at the auction, if Mr. Sheffer didn’t run away with that money, you should have the principal in your possession.”

Even now, she didn’t want to lose hope. That her mother would return to her side. That she would come back here and hug her, saying she had a hard time.

She couldn’t send her mother to prison before that could happen.

Her thin chest heaved with sobs. The fair skin below her neck became mottled with red, and thick tears fell onto the promissory note.

Yet, the Duke’s attitude remained composed. He seemed to be quite enjoying it, but all this was covered up as a misunderstanding.

Another promissory note he held out in front of her was filled with different numbers.

“This is a promissory note stating that Vivian Eveline will repay the interest on the principal borrowed by Mrs. Eveline. If you sign here, I plan to charge only the interest calculated up to today, excluding the principal.”

The cloudy eyes that looked up with wet eyes held a question about this unexpected leniency.

“The deal I made with Mrs. Eveline will disappear with just your signature. Then I’ll lose the grounds to report her, right?”

It was a tempting and groundbreaking proposal. But she couldn’t figure out what was in the sweet cake.

Questions breed fear.

Duke Baitness’s flawless smile concealed his true purpose.

“So beg.”

Soon, the smile disappeared from the Duke’s lips. The blue light in his eyes, which had been consistently cold, became even more chilling.

“Plead for your life. Beg. Then I’ll show you some generosity. I’ll let you sign this promissory note.”

There was no time to worry about what was in the cake. Whether she ate the cake or not, the result would be the same. Rather, if she could buy a little more time until death, she decided she would gladly swallow the cake.

“…Please save me. I’m begging you. I’ll plead like this. So please save me. Please don’t report my mother, Duke.”

Tears that she thought had stopped flowed again. The tears contained incomparable, heartfelt sincerity. The expression of the other party watching silently made the result confusing. It was clearly a face that had made a decision, but it also seemed to be contemplating.

She felt pity for her situation, where she could only cry without realizing his true intentions. Trembling like livestock being disposed of, she eagerly awaited his answer.

“Good. Well done. Keep doing that, Miss Eveline.”

Finally, his lips parted. Then, he took out a fountain pen from his inner jacket pocket and held it out. When she lifted her head, a beautiful smile with even his long eyes curved greeted Vivian.

“Sign it.”

The simple and clear response dismissed the fact that he had driven Vivian to the edge as if it had never happened. In a brief moment, fearing his mind might change, she immediately opened the fountain pen.